It’s about politics of division

Sunday

Aug 3, 2014 at 3:15 AM

With all due respect paid to former New Hampshire Gov. Meldrim Thomson, it is time to retire the “Ax the Tax” slogan he once made famous.

While perhaps prudent at one time, The “Pledge” has proved divisive and has stood in the way of discussions which could lead to better fiscal and tax policy without necessarily resulting in a sales or income tax — the boogeymen of New Hampshire politics.

The debate over signing the pledge resurfaced last week when Americans for Prosperity — New Hampshire (AFP-NH) distributed a press release bragging of a “successful pledge signing, with over 40 candidates, from Governor to State Representative signing the 2014 pledge which states that, if elected, they commit to: cut taxes and fees and oppose any tax increase; cut spending and the size of government; pass a right to work law in New Hampshire; oppose all forms of ObamaCare in New Hampshire, including Medicaid expansion and uphold both the New Hampshire and United States Constitutions.”

In part, AFP-NH’s pledge drive amounts to political grandstanding and more broadly advocates poor fiscal policy.

“(U)phold(ing) both the New Hampshire and United States Constitutions” has nothing to do with taking the “pledge.” It is has to do with labeling those who dare to think differently as unpatriotic or turncoats.

It is the politics of division.

But what’s worse, this “Starve the Beast” mentality has done great damage.

New Hampshire was successfully sued for conditions at the state women’s prison, which were challenged as far back as 1987. Had the issue been dealt with responsibly at the time, we have to wonder if today’s price tag of $38 million for a new facility would have been needed.

State coffers have been forced to return millions of dollars in Medicaid funds to the federal government in a dispute over reimbursement to hospitals for their costs in servicing poor patience.

Then there is the lawsuit involving 25 acute-care hospitals over the Medicaid Enhancement Tax. Prior to being settled, its damage to the state budget was potentially as much as $400 million.

As it now stands there will still be a cost in the millions.

And we all (or most of us) can appreciate the disproportionate burden placed on homeowners by a revenue model that heavily depends of property taxes.

All these and more problems can find root in a collective refusal to take a no-holds-barred look at the state’s budgetary needs and revenue sources — for fear of the “Pledge.”

This is not to necessarily advocate for what Thomson feared — a sales or an income tax. But it is to consider the possibility there may be a better way of ensuring an adequate revenue flow.

Beyond that it is a plea for our political leaders to take open an honest look at New Hampshire’s needs without fear of reprisal.

And if the decision is the need for more revenue — or less — then let’s have that funding debate.

What taxes and fees go, what stays the same, which increases are added so the burden or benefit are fairly spread among all Granite Staters.

Or perhaps a re-evaluation of what we once thought were needs but are really wants.

This is what a family does come budget time. This is what businesses do.

And without fear of a political lynching by the “Pledge,” this is what our political leaders should do.